Dust to dust

When the consultant told Michael Eason he had mesothelioma, the diagnosis left him and his family reeling with shock. The deadly lung disease is caused, almost without exception, by exposure to asbestos fibres. Yet Michael had worked in a desk job for more than 30 years.

His fate had been sealed, however, when he left school at 15 to become an electrician, later going into instrument mechanics. Maintaining temperature detectors at the power station where he worked involved the removal of asbestos-based insulation. Michael knew nothing of the dangers, and no masks were provided.

Despite having no contact with asbestos since 1972, Michael was informed that his illness was terminal. Towards the end, he confided to his wife that the excruciating pain he was experiencing within his chest and lungs felt like being gnawed at by a rat.

Michael died within just three and a half months of first falling ill with breathing difficulties. He was 62.

Unfortunately, Michael’s case isn’t an uncommon one. Every single week, 20 tradesmen die from illnesses caused by breathing in asbestos fibres. Six of these are electricians.

Asbestos-related diseases, namely mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis (scarring of the lung tissue), account for around 4000 deaths a year in the UK.

What’s more, 1000 of these victims are tradesmen such as electricians and plumbers. It is the UK’s single biggest cause of work-related deaths, and, perhaps surprisingly, case numbers are rising. As these diseases are caused by latent exposure, it is predicted that, by 2013, 5000 people will die each year in the UK alone.

“We’re talking 14 times the number of direct construction fatalities. That’s the scale of the issue,” says Steve Goldrick, head of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Disease Reduction Programme.

“People simply don’t think about their lungs because they can’t see them. But the lungs weren’t meant to be treated like a vacuum-cleaner bag. We’ve got to act now to prevent the deaths of the future.”

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease. Cells of the mesothelium, a lubricated membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs, become abnormal and divide without order or control. They can invade and damage tissues and organs.

It is not only the fact that the damage is occurring out of sight, on our insides, which makes mesothelioma such a silent killer. The disease tends to take between 30 and 50 years from exposure to develop. Yet people with the condition often die within a year of diagnosis.

There is no reliable screening method for mesothelioma. Preventative treatments are not available in any case.

Sadly, once you are diagnosed with the disease, there is no known cure. Nearly all treatment is merely aimed at controlling the disease for as long as possible and keeping symptoms under control. To this end, radiotherapy or chemotherapy can help. Surgery to drain fluids from the lung, or even to remove one of the lungs, is obtainable. But these are only likely to prolong your life for a few years at most.

The chances of contracting an asbestos-related illness, and its subsequent severity, depend on the length of exposure and the amount of dust inhaled. If employers take the correct precautions, they can avoid future lawsuits, illnesses and even deaths.

Naturally occurring fibrous minerals, commonly known as asbestos, were used extensively in building materials from the 1950s until the mid-1980s. Versatile and plentiful, the substance seemed ideal for fireproofing and insulation.

Even though many asbestos materials have been removed over the years, the danger is still there waiting. It is estimated that more than half a million industrial, commercial and public sector premises currently contain asbestos, not to mention millions of homes.

If you work on structures that were built or refurbished before the year 2000 you are likely to come across asbestos. The two most dangerous forms, amosite (blue) and crocidolite (brown) were banned back in 1985. It wasn’t until 1999, however, that the government prohibited the use of chrysotile (white) asbestos.

Although chrysotile is less likely to break into minute fibres, which can be inhaled and then work their way down to the lower lungs, the HSE recommends the same precautions as it does for chrysotile’s blue and brown cousins. Its carcinogenic properties have been well documented, and it is far from safe.

If in good condition, asbestos materials are safe until tampered with. When buildings undergo maintenance and repair work, and fibres are disturbed by actions such as drilling and cutting, they become airborne and dangerous if regularly breathed in.

Some work can be carried out without a licence, meaning that dutyholders will not be breaking the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006. This is the case when dealing with textured coatings on ceilings and walls, floor tiles, asbestos fire blankets and asbestos cement roofs. It is still advisable to seek out training and wear protective clothing. Dampening areas and using hand instead of power tools can also reduce the risk.

Other tasks, however, are strictly licensed. Insulating board panels or asbestos pipe, spraying coatings or lagging are extremely hazardous. Workers should avoid disturbing these fabrics and hire in a licensed asbestos removal contractor.

But surely, in this day and age, everyone knows about the dangers of asbestos fibres, don’t they? Apparently not. A survey by the British Lung Foundation revealed almost 80% of tradesmen did not know exposure could be fatal. Less than one-third knew it was carcinogenic.

The HSE has launched a new campaign called Asbestos kills to make workers, especially young tradesmen, more aware of required safety precautions.

“The problem today is that we associate it with a problem that’s been and gone, because asbestos is now banned,” says Goldrick. “There is a real risk that the younger generation entering the workforce today will think this does not apply to them.

“We’ve still got a legacy of half a million buildings in the country with asbestos in them. The number of cases of mesothelioma is decreasing within the traditional industries, but increasing with tradesmen.”